The American Ireland Fund, the largest private fundraising organization for Ireland, held it’s 23rd Annual New England Boston Gala Dinner on 11 November, 2004.

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Hosted at the Marriott Hotel, Copley Place,
the evening raised $2 million benefiting worthy projects in Ireland.

Cocktails for more than 1,100 people in the magnificent foyer were followed by a lavish private supper in the grand ballroom for American Ireland Fund donors. The Tom LaMark Orchestra and the Right-On band provided entertainment while the most prominent members of Boston’s business community networked at the black-tie event. The event was chaired this year by Mike Sheehan, President and CEO of Hill, Holliday, Connors, Cosmopulos.

Mr. Kingsley Aikins, President & CEO of The American Ireland Fund spoke about Integrated Education in Northern Ireland and celebrated a successful year for Boston.

This dinner featured another signature AIF dinner journal also called “Making Peace -Celebrating a New Day”. The beautiful book was created under the guidance of Mike Sheehan and Dennis Farrington of Hill Holliday. Each page tells the story of a day in the life of people in Northern Ireland that have benefitted from The American Ireland Fund.

The annual black tie event is regularly attended by some of Boston’s business, sporting, and cultural elite. Attendees this year include former Boston Celtics star Bill Russell, New England Patriots owner Bob Kraft, Lieutenant Governor Kerry Healey, Irish Consul General Isolde Moylan, British Consul General John Rankin, Bill Swanson, Chairman and CEO of Raytheon, Gene McQuade, President and COO of Freddie Mac, Rich Monaghan, President of Putnam Retail Management, Pittsburgh Steelers owner and AIF board member Dan Rooney, Bob Reynolds, Vice President and COO of Fidelity, Anne Finucane, Northeast President of Bank of America, Mike Barnicle of WCVB-s Chronicle, Jack Manning, President and CEO of Boston Capital, Bob Crowe of Perkins, Smith, Cohen & Crowe, Natalie Jacobson of Channel 5, and Chad Gifford of Bank of America.

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